The Suffolk Chronicle, received this morning, contains a full and
interesting report of the proceedings at a meeting held at From. lingliam to petition Parliament for the Ballot. At this meeting, delegates were present from no fewer than forty different towns and parishes in East Suffolk. The two Liberal candidates for that division of the county at the last election, Mr. GARDEN and Mr. ADAIR, and Mr. JOHN Camps of Bungay, were among the principal speakers. Numerous instances were given of the bribery and intimi- dation practised at the late election. Several gentlemen declared themselves recent and reluctant converts to the Ballot ; but all agreed, that unless the counrty was to be converted into one vast rotten bow rough, the secret vote must be adopted. The petition which the meeting adopted is pithy, and speaks to facts. We believe that the inhabitants of almost every town and parish in the kingdom might con- scientiously sign it ; and it would not be easy to put facts in a better form. On this account, we subjoin a copy of the petition.
" Your petitioners are assured that your Honourable House is designed by the Coe stitution to represent the opinions of the People at large ; and that a sole in the idea lion of a Member of y onr lloutatrable House is an expression of the elector's consci ectious choice, which he is entitled to deliver. without responsibility to any other person.
" Your petitioners affirm, as well from their own observation as from the public no- toriety, that a system of bribery has been so carefully organised, and intimidation MP extensively employed, that a very large proportion of the votes given at a Parliamen- tary election represent not the opinions of the respective electors, but the illegitimate influence of some other party. " Your petitioners believe the exertion of such influence is FO general, that society at large is becoming too familiar with such acts to sisit the offenders with proper repro- Whoa ; that legal penalties are wholly powerless for their prevention ; and that the effects of a general clectioa, us now conducted, on the public morals, are highly injurious.
" Your petitioners are fully persuruled that the iutimialation„ the bribery, and the demoralization prevalent under the present representative sy stem, caunot be effectually abated so long as the practice of open soling is allowed to continue. " They therefore pray your Honourable House to adopt the Vote by Ballot, by which means alone the franchise can be conscientiously and safely exercised."
The Reformers of East Suffolk have set an example worthy of imi- tation. The plan of assembling delegates, especially in agricultural districts, is convenient ; and such meetings have great weight.
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